Expanded-metal machine.



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INVNTGR lio CHARLES S. OAKES, 0F JEANNETTE, PENNSYLVANTA.

EXPANDED-METAL MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed March 26, 1915. Serial No. 17,243.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. OAKES, residing at Jeannette, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Expanded-Metal Machines, of which improvements the following is a specification.

ExpandedU metal of present-day comm is produced from ordinary sheet steel. .in the course of manufacture the sheet sheared in parallel lines of interrupted cuts;

the interval between 'adjacent lines of cuts determines the width of' the strands of the finished product; the length of the individual slits which make up the lines of interrupted cuts determines the length of the meshes in the iinishedproduct; and it is the staggered arrangement of the slits of succeeding rows which gives the desired reticulated form -to the Whole.

T-he sheet of expanded metal is developed in a piane oblique to that in which the blank sheet originally extends. Or, stated differently, in the finished sheet the sheet metal of which the strands and bonds lindi- Vidually considered are formed extends in planes whose general trend is oblique to the extent of the sheet of expanded `metal as a whole; while the rim of each expanded slit, extends in a plane which also is oblique to the general extent of the sheet as a Whole, and, approximately at right angles to the general trend of the sheet material of the strands and bonds, individ- -ually considered.

My invention, enerally stated consists in a-die block with a surface of specific configuration: the general extent of this surface determines the general extent of the finished sheet of expanded metal, while its particular configuration is that ofV the particular configuration of the sheet of expanded metal in detail. In other words, this die block is'indeed a matrix upon which a sheet of expanded metal is cut, drawn and spread, and its conti ration is, in its essential parts, exactly t at which would be produced in a plastic surface by pressing a sheet of expanded metal upon it.

At the beginningr of the operation, the blank sheet of metal extends along one edge of the die block and sustains an angular position with respect thereto; it extends indeed in a plane `parallel to the small sur the die member.

faces of the die block against which the strands and bonds of the sheet as it is developed are gradually spread. Y

My invention further consists of a cutter and spreader which, coperating with the die block, will properly cut. stretch and spread a plain sheet of metal placed between cutter and spreader into a sheet of expanded metal, resting against the die block.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the machine of my invention in longitudinal section. and Fig. 2 shows it in transverse section. The plane of section of Fig. l1 'is indicated b v the dotted line I-I Fig. 2, and the plane of section of Fig. 2 by the dotted line II-II, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in front-elevation of the shear member of theniachine; Figs. 4 and 5 are views on larger scale and in perspective of fragments of die block and shear, arranged face to face in proper relative positions; Fig. k6 is a diagrannnatic View, explanatory of' operation; and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a ,modification in structure. The die member 1 is shown in front-elevation in Fig. 1, in vertical section in Fig. il. and in detail and in vperspective in Fig. 4. The general 4extent of this member, as will he understood vfrom a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2. is in a steep plane oblique lo the horizontal, and it will be understood that at the beginning of the operation the blank of plain sheet metal will extend in a horizontal position along the loweredge of This initial position of the material is indicated in Fig. 2 at wb. Ofcourse, the `termsloblique and horizontal here used have merely relative` significance. lVIanifestly, the machine as a whole .may be set at any angle tothe horizontal.

More minutely examined, the inclined face of this die member is formed yinto a 0 leave semi-heimgonalr blocks of like .dimmisions but in inverted position.

As will presently be explained,'a1id as is' apparent, considering the initial position of Com; 1 0 a the material, the displacement incident to cutting and expanding is upward; and accordingly it is the edges of tl .ese steps which constitute the cutting edges and it is the downward faces of the steps against which the slitted material is spread, stretched and shaped. Furthermore, it is the width of the base of the hexagonal recess in the step which determines the width of the bond in the finished material. Referring to Fig. 4, and selecting for consideration the central block of the group, it is the edge che-e-,' against which the material is drawn and cut, and it is the lower projecting face of this block against which the slitted strand is drawn and shaped.

As Figs. 2 and 4 clearly indicate, the die blocks are built up of identical columnar hexagonal prismatic units, and these are assembled and clamped in a suitable retaining bed or frame.

It may be remarked that the over-all dimensions of the die member limit the size of the sheet of expanded metal which may be produced in a given machine; and, further, that with the arrangement indicated in Fig. 2 the overhang of the die member is the measure of the maximum,width of blank which may be expanded in the machine. The shear member which-cooperates with this die member to cut and spread the metal might, manifestly, travel in vertical direction; in which case, however, its traverseI would come to positive stop in abutment against lthe stepped die member, and. furthermore, the shear would in such case have to be composite and advance section after section to effect a l progressive shearing and expanding.

Instead of a shear member with a vertical traverse, I provide a shear member which moves in a direction parallel to the treads and risers of the stepped die member (that is, horizontally and longitudinally of the die member shown and described), a shear member which is stepped to correspond with and form indeed a counterpart to the stepped die member, and which moves in close proximity, across the face of the die member. The interval of separation of the treads ofthe stepped parts is approximately that of the thickness of the material to be Worked; the risers pass one another closely, for they constitute together pairs of shears. It Will be understood that in this case, as is generally true in the case of a machine of two coperating parts, either the die member or the shear member may be made movable and its fellow stationary, or both may be movableit being requisite only that the purposeful relative movement described is attained. But, as I have explained, I find it simple and convenient to mount the die member in stationary supports and cause the shear member to move across its face.

As shown the shear member 2 moves in a slide-way formed invthe bed of the machine, being guided .by the tongue and groove engagement indicated at 3, 3 and is propelled by the rack andwpinion drive indicated at 4. Any suitable means of obtaining the relative movement described may of course be resorted to`. As is indicated in Fig. 1, the shear member 2 may be provided with double oppositely inclined rows of cutting edges. and so adapted to operate on each reciprocation, whether in one direction or the other, instead of on every alternate reciprocation. This is a matter o3'a preference with the builder of the machine. Figs. 1 and 3 show the two rows of cutters crossing one another; manifestly two such rows might be arranged end to end on a longer carrier.

The minute construction of the stepped shear member remains to be described; In this connection Figs. 3 and 5 are to be particularly examined and compared with Figs. 2 and 4. rI`he shear member is characterized by a succession of cutting edges, glz., j, t`l, etc. Each of these edges lies in a vertical plane parallel to the risers of the stepped die block, the effective edge of cach extends in vertical measurement a distance corresponding to the rise of the Istep of the stepped die block; tbe edge is preferably inclined ata more gentle slope than'tlie angu-v lar face e-f of the die block; there is a separate cutting edge-g-t, z'- j,.etc., for each horizontal lineI of hexagonal blocks or each step of the die block (so that, viewed in elcvation-Fig. 3 the edges of the succeeding shear members form an incline, vrt-70 and the succeeding cutting edges g-i, j, etc., are stepped in receding succession, by the steps -z',.j etc. (of. Figs, 2 and 5), which correspond in depth to the Width of the treads of the stepped die block-a unit of measure which, as already explained, determines the width of strand in the finished product. I

Preferably the degree of inclination of each cutting edge .fj-li, j, etc., is such that its horizontal extent yis approximately as great as or somewhat greater than the width `of cach hexagonal block. of the die member,

so that the forward end y of the edge g-L, for example, engages a new block before the rear end z. has passed from engagement 'with the next preceding block.

The operation/ of cutting, stretching, and shaping will be clearly understood on considering the iagrammatic showing of Fig. f3. The lette/r c-d-e-f indicate the semihexagonal lower outline of one of the blocks of the die/member, 1, viewed in front elevation, and thc letters` (/-L indicate the advancing edge of one of the cutters of the shear member 2. It will be remembered that each step of the die member is made up of a succession of such semi-hexagonal blocks with corresponding intervals: that there is a succession ot' such steps. each overhanging the one beneath; and that there is one cutting edge, such as g-h. for each step of the die member. In this diagrammatic Fig. 6 the dotted lines indicate the material under treatment.

As the cutter advances in the direction indicated by the arrow. its forward end. cooperating with the corner e of the die block will engage and begin to cut the metal o which extends in horizontal plane and rests along one of its edges against the nether face of the block which is indicated by the edge As the cutter g-L advances it will raise the proximate portion of the sheet o from the level of the lower end g to the level of the upper end It. excepting only a strip which is sheared and laid up against the nether face of the block, the material so raised being brought to position Where it will be engaged by the next succeeding cutting edge 'if-j. in like manner as the non' severed portion o was engaged by the out ting edge ,cf-h. And it will be observed that along the line f-p. the edge (/Wh will not cut. That interval ,f-p represents the length oi' the bond in the finished product. The next succeeding cutting edge -j will engage and cut the material across that interval. f--p (though thecut will be off-set from the cut madeby g-`-t). just as the edge f/-h has engaged andeut the material across the interval d-e. which was left unA out b v the next preceding cutter.

lf desired a clamp may be provided. se-

` curing the edge of the sheet (theedge o..

Fig. 2) before the operation begins: and. furthermore. the shear-member may he provided vvith a guide having a lower face disposed opposite to and at an interval from the inclined upper races of the sheanblocks. to serve as a guide for the uncut portion of the sheet while the operation is in progess. Such provisions are obvious, and are not essential to successful operation. lf found desirable they may be resorted to. and manifestl'v my invention is not limited to ordinary engineering expedients. present or absent conditions of service may dictate.

In oase the tivo rows of cutters borne by the shear member Z are arranged to cross one another (an arrangement indicated in Figs. 1 and 3). the otherwise continuous in* clines m/-n and m'd'n. formed by the up per surfaces of the shear blocks are interrupted at the crossing. as indicated at o, to

allovv spacefor the passage of the portion' of the sheet which. when the cutting has advanced half Way, remains to be cut bv the upper portion of the apparatus. And, furthermore, ,While in general extent the front faces m o m, n o p, and n o q of tho shear member (see Fig. 3) are (leaving the minute stepped formation out of account) inclined. as indicated in Fig. 2, this inclined face of the shear member is interrupted by the spaces fm o 7), m 0 g, and fn o o. whose further walls (when viewed as in Fig. 3l are vertical and extend in the plane indicated by the line nwe, Fig. 2. This recessing of the shear member is a further provision to permit the free movement of the sheet ofmetal'in course of treatment,l

ally raised. still maintaining its general horizontal extent when, viewed transversely, from lovver to higher level. This description is accurate in its application to the machine constructed as in Figs. l and 3. so far as concerns the first half of the operation; the cutting oi the sheet and the attendant elevation of the uncut material is normal. as already described, `from m to o (or from m to o). But when, in the progof operation half of the blank has been cut and expanded. and the stilluncut por- `tion of the blank sheet has been raised to the level of the point 0. further free rise of tlie uncut portion of the sheet is restrained by the now over-hanging portion of the oppositely inclined line of `shear members. The further cutting. from yo to n (or from o to n). is perfectly normal and is accomplished as already described. But. as cutting advances upward bevond the point 0. the uncut portion of the sheet does not rise freely. but is gradually bent and drawn upward on an incline through the slot formed at 0. i

The individual cutters may be made as separate blocks. all alike.; and for example of the identical prismatic for-m indicated in Fig. 5. (just as the individual die blocks of the die member are all alike, and are individually removable, replaceable, and inter# changeable.) Fig. 3 shows such a series of individually distinct but identical cutter blocks secured in a common carrier and making up a single unitary shear member.

l have shown the cutters to be rigid in their carrier. In such form their operation isn/lost clearly intelligible. But it will be understood that with such a cutting edge as g-h the wear of leutting is greatest at the lower end. Therefore, in order to attain an even distributi .t weer along thecutting edge, l may ni;uthe individual cutters` in the form of cylinders mounted to turn freely on bearings formed on or in the carrier. In adopting this expedient I provide cutters which present ever new portions of their edges to the repeated operation and in which wear is distributed.l Such an alternative construction is indicated in Fig. 7. It needs no further tescription. However. I may addethat. il desired. these cylindrical cutters may be rotated positively.

As shown and now described the steps of the stepped die and shear members are square cornered: it will be understood that a rectangular corner is not essential to successful operation and that modification ot' this angle will correspomlingly modify the minute torni ot' the product.

l claim as my invention:

l. In an exlminled-metal combination of a die-block and a shearblock relatively movable the one. with ie spect to the other in adirection parallel to the plane of extent of the t'ed-in blank material and cooperating in such relative movement to shear stretch and shape the fed-in material. said die-block presenting meshshaping surfaces opposed to the advance movement ol' the material in the course of its Jfabrication and said shear block presenting a tension lsurface inclinedto the plane ol extent ot the t'ed-in material.

L). ln an expanded-metal lnachine the combination otl a colmnnar die-block aml a wedge-shaped shear-block arranged with the end surface of the columnar die-block and a lateral surface ot' the wedge-shaped shear-block opposite one another. the two said members movable one with respect to the other with their said opposite surfaces adjacent one another.

3. In an expanded-metal machine. the combination of a succession of semi-columnar die-blocks arranged in line with their homologous sides in parallelism their ends in a common plane and separated from one another by inverted semi-collunnar recesses and a shear-block traversing the said line of die-blocks and in such traverse passing across the ends ot' said die-blocks. one aiter another. said shear-block provided with an machine the -inclined forward surtacel L ln combination ot' an expandedanetal machine` the a die-member equipped with a pluralit v of stepped rows of die-blocks and a sh lar-member provided with a Correspondingly stepped succession -of sheen blocks. the two said members movable the one with respect to theotherin a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of such steps.

5. In an expamled-metal machine, the combination of a die-member provided with a succession of rows ot' diefblocks and a shear-member provided with two oppositely inclined rows of shear-blocks. the two said membeis movable the one with respect to the other.

(3. In an expanded-metal machine, the combination of a die-memher whose working t'ace is a matrix upon which a sheet of expanded metal may be formed and as such is stepped from side to side and grooved from end to end and a correspondingly stepped .shear-member advancing by relative movement across the face of the said die-member from end to end. the anterior tace of said shear-member (anterior with respect to the direction of such relative adi vance) being inclined.

T. A die-member for an expanded-metal machine including in a suitable sup ort a pluralityv ot' identical columnar bloc s arranged in a succession of stepped rows.

D. shear member for machine including in a suitable support a plurality ot' identical wedge-shaped blocks arranged in stepped succession.

9. A shear-member for an expanded-metal machine including in a suitable support a plurality of rotatably mounted cyhndrical cutter-blocks, mounted on parallel axes, and affording a succession of stepped cutting edges and a succession of stepped inclinedy tension surfaces.

10. In an expanded-metal machine the combination of a matrix block shaped to conformity with one face of a finished sheet of expanded metal, with respect thereto and insuch relative movement progressively positioning, cutting and spreading thereon a. blank of sheet metal engaged by and between said blocks.

In testimony whereofl I have hereunto set my hand.

(`H A R LES S. OAKES.

an expanded-metal and a block movable 

